Grand opening to kick off Davraa

A GRAND opening ceremony starting with the parade of athletes and culminating in a breathtaking fireworks display await participants and guests when the 2013 Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet gets underway in Tagum City from February 25 to March 1.

And for the first time since its completion, the P243-million state-of-the-art Davao del Norte Sports and Cultural Center finally opens its doors as it serves as the main venue for the region's annual sporting event for elementary and secondary athletes.

Romulo Tagalo, Davao del Norte provincial information officer, said Governor Rodolfo del Rosario has left no stones unturned in preparing the spanking facility in Mankilam for the 5,000 athletes, coaches and officials from 10 delegations.

A mass will start the day's activity on February 25, followed by a short parade of athletes to the venue. The opening ceremony is expected to start at 5 p.m. and will be concluded by 6:30 p.m.

Tagalo said the opening rites will be highlighted by a 15-minute fireworks display, illuminating the Tagum skies with vibrant colors and entertaining the participants for the week-long sporting activity.

Governor Del Rosario himself will welcome the participants while his son, first district Representative Anthony del Rosario, will be the keynote speaker.

This year's Davraa Meet will feature 18 sports disciplines, including arnis, archery, athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics, tennis, sepak takraw, softball, swimming, taekwondo, table tennis and volleyball spread out in 13 venues.

The 530-member Davao City will defend its over-all championship against nine other delegations Davao del Norte, Tagum City, Panabo City, Island Garden City of Samal, Davao Oriental, Mati City, Davao del Sur, Digos City and Compostela Valley.

Davao del Norte sports coordinator Giovanni Gulanes, in a recent interview, said the Davraa opening will also serve as the grand opening of their newest sports facility.

Department of Education (Deped)-Davao Physical Education and School Sports (Pess) officer-in-charge Felipe A. Non Jr., for his part, said delegations will start arriving in Tagum City tomorrow and on Friday.

A refreshers' course for technical officials is slated on Saturday and Sunday, while the coaches' briefing is set at 3 p.m. of Monday to orient coaches on the tournament rules and regulations of each event.

Non, interviewed by Sun.Star Davao Superbalita at his office recently, said in the vernacular, "The region aims to regain its seventh over-all finish in the upcoming Palarong Pambansa since we dropped to 10th place last year."

Top regional meet performers will compose the Davraa delegation that will see action in the Palaro scheduled on April 21 to 26 in Dumaguete City.

Meanwhile, Tagalo also proudly announced that Davao del Norte won the bid to host the 2014 Private Schools Athletic Association (Prisaa) National Championship.

The province got the nod to host the Prisaa nationals after making a presentation to the Prisaa Board during the February 10 meeting held in Pangasinan before the 2013 edition of the annual games for collegiate athletes opened at the Narciso Ramos Sports Complex in Lingayen. (Charles Raymond A. Maxey/Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan)